Micronuclei detection in oral cytologic smear: does it add diagnostic value?

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Cytopathology
• Cancer diagnostics

Background:

• Early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) improves survival rates.
• Noninvasive methods like oral cytology are crucial for early diagnosis.
• Micronuclei (MN) analysis in oral exfoliative cytology is a potential diagnostic tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare micronuclei (MN) presence in oral exfoliative cytology.
• To assess MN in healthy controls, individuals with risk factors, oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs), and OSCC.
• To compare cytological findings with histopathological diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• 92 subjects were categorized into four groups: healthy controls (with/without risk factors), OPMLs, and OSCC.
• Oral exfoliative cytology samples were collected for MN detection.
• Histopathological examination confirmed the final diagnosis and was compared to cytological results.

Main Results:

• Micronuclei (MN) exhibited a high diagnostic accuracy of 95.2% in the OPMLs group.
• The sensitivity of the MN test in the OSCC group was lower at 52.2%.
• Cytological criteria for malignancy were clearly identified in the OSCC group compared to OPMLs.

Conclusions:

• Conventional oral cytology combined with MN analysis is a valuable adjunctive tool.
• This approach significantly aids in the screening and early detection of dysplastic oral lesions.
• Micronuclei testing shows promise for improving oral cancer screening protocols.